Located in Dresden TN, Moran Place was built by J.W. Moran for his wife Sophia Reilly Gunn. It's a modified design of George Barber's Cottage no. 36 from Book No. 2. Construction began in early 1895 but put on hold when Sophia became Ill and died Oct 7 1895. Construction resumed a few months later. The items presented here are from Moran Place.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

1937 West Tennessee Sweet Potato Festival - Dresden TN

Before there was a Tennessee Iris Festival, Dresden hosted the West Tennessee Sweet Potato Festival September 22-24, 1937 - "The First Event of Its Kind in History of Nation" according to the front cover of the program! Charles Harrell Moran was on the Board of Directors and held the position of Chairman for this event. Why a sweet potato festival? Because at that time Weakley County Tn was the second largest grower of sweet potatoes in the United States! There's also another post and a letter from George Washington Carver wishing Charles Moran every success on the Festival.

Here is the official press release and program sheet for the Festival:

News Matter for immediate release.

With Mayor Overton of Memphis having accepted an invitation to be the honor guest of the West Tennessee Sweet Potato Festival to be held in Dresden on Sept. 22-24, and with plans complete for the various forms of amusement and entertainment, the committee in charge feels that the public can now be assured an event of more than the usual character.

Third Day: Sept 24; 7:30pm selection and coronation of new queen for West Tennessee who will be the official "Miss Nancy Hall" for 1937-38. 10 pm Festival Queen's hall, high school gym. Music by Husk O'Hare's Ochestra.

The fact first prize of $25 in case on best grade hamper of sweet potatoes will be awarded is attracting wide-spread attention. Competition is open to all sweet potato growers of West Tennessee. The complete premium list follows:

Judging will be done according to score card worked out by Division of Extension and Marketing Service.

Class 5. Best display of Flowers (as a community or individual, for amateurs only)--$10.00, $5.00.

Prize winning Potatoes will be claimed by the Sweet Potato Festival and will not be returned to the owners.

The Swift Jewel Cowboys appeared in concert on Sept 23 1937 and gave a special night time performance, for a small admission fee, that evening. To get a feel for their music and what people were listening to click on the MP3 link below to hear the Swift Jewel Cowboys in all their glory. My favorite is the Coney Island Washboard, I think it might be the third song that plays.

After the beauty revue came the highly anticipated Queen's Ball with "music by Husk O'Hare, the Genial Gentleman of the Air, and his 10 musicians and entertainers". According to O'hare's bio in the Festival Program "he once taught Prince of Wales to play drums"!